Boxing Day was always the same: our grandparents arrived at our home which was now strewn not with paper but with things we had received. They pretended to be interested in my toys while I pretended to understand what was being discussed: it was one such day (perhaps not actually Boxing Day) when I thought we were talking about Hong Kong but it was actually the Dordogne; or perhaps the other way round. Such mutual pretence is more sophisticated among adults, yet still I feel that I am there for entertainment rather than conversation: but is there really a difference?